Colin Clive

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Colin Glenn Clive (born Clive-Greig; 20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British theatre and film actor. Known for portraying individualistic, tumultuous characters which often mirrored his personal life,[1] he is most famous for his role as Dr. Henry Frankenstein in the 1931 film Frankenstein and its 1935 sequel, Bride of Frankenstein. Clive’s maniacal delivery of the words, "It's alive, it's alive!" when Dr. Frankenstein confirms his creature is moving, was listed by AFI as one of the 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.[2]

Early life

Clive was born in Saint-Malo, France, to an English colonel, Colin Philip Greig, and his wife, Caroline Margaret Lugard Clive, a member of the aristocratic Clive family. In a 1935 interview, Clive stated his mother had moved to France to escape the tumult of the ongoing Second Boer War.[3] His family had intended for Clive to embark on a military career, and he attended Stonyhurst College and subsequently the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he broke both knees after being thrown from and crushed by a horse. Recuperating from his injuries, Clive decided to become an actor.[4][5] He was a member of the Hull Repertory Theatre Company for three years.[4]

Clive created the role of Steve Baker, the white husband of racially mixed Julie LaVerne, in the first London production of Show Boat; the production featured Cedric Hardwicke and Paul Robeson. Clive first worked with James Whale in the Savoy Theatre production of Journey's End and subsequently joined the British community in Hollywood, repeating his stage role in the film version.[6]Template:Sfn

Hollywood

Clive's first screen role, in Journey's End (1930), was also directed by James Whale. Clive played the tormented alcoholic Captain Stanhope, a character that (much like Clive's other roles) mirrored his personal life. He was an in-demand leading man for several major film actresses of the era, including Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Corinne Griffith, and Jean Arthur. He starred as Edward Rochester in the 1934 adaptation of Jane Eyre opposite Virginia Bruce. He was a descendant of Robert Clive and appeared in a starring role in Clive of India (1935), a biopic of his ancestor. Clive remarked that he was disappointed he did not get to portray his own ancestor in the film.[7][6][8]

Colin Clive, together with Leo G. Carroll, starred in a radio play titled The Other Place. It was written by John L. Balderston for the radio program The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour hosted by Rudy Vallee. It was aired on 14 November 1935.[9]

In a 1935 interview with Film Weekly, Clive stated that he hated horror films and preferred more serious dramatic roles, only appearing in horror for financial reasons and because his performances were popular with audiences.[10]

When his agent discovered that Clive was only accruing 30% of his actual income due to paying taxes in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Clive refused to obtain American citizenship, which would have removed British taxes, fearing that it would prevent him from serving in the British army if a war broke out.[11]

Author Ayn Rand wrote Clive a fan letter in 1934 after seeing a stage performance of Journey’s End, praising Clive’s performance and character. Clive responded that he was very touched by the letter and would always keep it.[12]

Personal life

Clive was married to Jeanne de Casalis[13] in June 1929. By 1935, Clive and Casalis had been living separately, with Clive in Los Angeles County and Casalis in London.[14]

Death

Colin Clive suffered from severe chronic alcoholism and he died from complications of tuberculosis on 25 June 1937 at age 37.[7]

Clive's alcoholism was apparent to his co-stars. He was often seen napping on set and sometimes was so intoxicated that he had to be held upright for over-the-shoulder shots. Clive was tormented by the medical threat of amputation of his long-damaged leg.[15]

Forrest J Ackerman recalled visiting Clive's body: "I actually saw him in death, lying in a bed at a mortuary where it was possible for the public to view his body. He looked remarkably as he had when lying in bed in The Bride of Frankenstein."[16] Over 300 mourners turned out. One of the pallbearers was Peter Lorre.[15] His cenotaph is located at Chapel of the Pines Crematory.

Roles

File:Colin Clive 14.jpg
Flyer for Colin Clive's appearance in the 1935 play Libel!

Stage

  • Peter and Paul (September 1925)[17][18]
  • Advertising April (November 1925)[19]
Date of 1st performance Title Author(s) City Theatre Role
1925 March 20 Rose-Marie Otto Harbach, Rudolf Friml, Herbert Stothart London Drury Lane Edward HawleyTemplate:Sfn[20]
1926 May 30 Getting Mother Married Neil Grant London Apollo Capt. Eric WilbrahamTemplate:Sfn
1927 June 30 Fire Arthur Rose London Everyman Theatre St. John SeveningTemplate:Sfn
1928 May 3 Show Boat Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern London Drury Lane SteveTemplate:Sfn[21]
1928 November 4 The Dark Path Evan John London Savoy Theatre James HavillandTemplate:Sfn
1929 January 21 Journey's End R. C. Sherriff London Savoy Theatre Cpt. StanhopeTemplate:Sfn
1929 April 14 Let's Leave It At That Jeanne de Casalis, Colin Clive London Prince of Wales's Theatre Michael SternTemplate:Sfn[22]
1929 April 23 Shall We Join the Ladies? J. M. Barrie London PalaceTheatre Mr. VaileTemplate:Sfn
1930 February 2 Forty-Seven Sydney Loch London Prince of Wales's Theatre Forty-SevenTemplate:Sfn
1930 April 22 Hamlet William Shakespeare London Haymarket Theatre LaertesTemplate:Sfn
1930 June 30 The Swan Ferenc Molnár London St. James's Theatre Dr. Nicholas AgiTemplate:Sfn[23]
1930 December 5 Overture William Bolitho New York Longacre Theatre Karl Ritter[24]
1931 May 21 The Crime at Blossoms Mordaunt Shairp London Playhouse Theatre Christopher MerrymanTemplate:Sfn
1932 July 19 Escape John Galsworthy London Garrick Theatre Matt DenantTemplate:Sfn
1932 August 22 Loyalties John Galsworthy London Garrick Theatre Ronald DancyTemplate:Sfn
1932 September 29 Justice John Galsworthy London Garrick Theatre William FalderTemplate:Sfn
1933 October 28 Eight Bells Percy G. Mandley New York Hudson Theatre Dale[25]
1933 December 26 The Lake Dorothy Massingham and Murray MacDonald New York Martin Beck Theatre John Clayne[26]
1935 December 20 Libel Edward Wooll New York Henry Miller's Theatre Sir Mark Loddon, Bart. M.P.[27]

Film

Notes

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References

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External links

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b "Colin Clive," The Stage (1 July 1937), p. 7. [obituary]
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Shared role with Brian Gilmour.
  21. ↑ Shared part with Jack Livesey.
  22. ↑ Revived at the Queen's Theatre on 10 June 1929.
  23. ↑ Replaced by Basil Langton and Glen Byam Shaw.
  24. ↑ "Overture", Internet Broadway Database.
  25. ↑ "Eight Bells", Internet Broadway Database.
  26. ↑ "The Lake", Internet Broadway Database.
  27. ↑ "Libe", Internet Broadway Database.
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